The event will provide local producers with the opportunity to hear up-to-date information on pasture management research and the technology advancements for maximum pasture growth.

“The event will provide attendees with a greater understanding of what is happening in their paddocks which enables better management and cost savings, and can also result in increased returns,” said Hunter Local Land Services pastures officer Peter Beale.

Attendees will learn how to interpret and manage landscape variation for maximum production; how to best utilise rainfall to boost ryegrass performance, and how they can improve beef cattle growth rates on summer grasses. They will also learn about some promising new pasture varieties offering strong growth rates.

“Producers can learn how to better observe and interpret their soil to ensure they spend their money where they will get the greatest results and save money on fertiliser application,” Mr Beale said. 

“By focussing on what and why different areas of a paddock are performing best, producers can identify where they need to focus their inputs such as fertiliser application for greatest pasture growth.”

The event will feature presentations from several industry experts on valuable research being undertaken including studies into landscape effects on pasture growth being undertaken by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), which invests up to $5 million per year in research in grazing and pasture management.

Guest speaker Lester McCormick will present findings from MLA’s Evergraze Orange Proof site, which explored the interaction of a variety of pasture growth and grazing preferences. The research found notable differences in the pasture growth across the site which indicates nutrients are being removed and transported within the paddock at vastly different rates. Lester will explain these results and the implications for managing inputs to pasture such as fertiliser application. 

The event will also explore the use of new technology such as GPS soil testing and satellite imagery to improve understanding of soil and plant needs in different areas of a paddock by measuring variances in soil nutrient and pasture growth.

The event is presented by MLA and supported by NSW Grasslands and Hunter Local Land Services with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. 

The MLA Pastures Update will be held on Wednesday 7 September from 9.30am – 3.30pm at St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, 61 Ravenshaw Street, Gloucester. Cost of attendance is $20 per person with morning tea and lunch provided. 

For more information or to register contact Peter Beale on 0427 007 468 or visit the Hunter Local Land Services website at www.hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au.